Cashbox



April 951 V w. H. WHlTCOMB 2,547,512

, CASHBOX Filed Sept. 2, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.|

INVENTOR WILLIAM H. WHITCOMB April 3, 1951 w. H. WHITCOMB CASHBOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2, 1947 FIG.2

RB M mo C En VH Nw Hf M A u u w FIG.4 g g Attorney Patented Apr. 3, 1 951 ITJED' TAT 1E OFFICE 2,547,512 A-SHBQX William H. WhiiiQmb,?P0fl7l?1 d;DI Application September 2, 1941,. Serial Not. 771, 89

(01. NSF-.83)

Claims;

My present invention relates to a petty cashbox of utility in financial institutions, stores, or other establishments wherein small coins are handled. The device is of use to clerks in Ina-kingchange, to professional men in keeping petty cash, to bank tellers in handling withdrawals-,- and in many other similar situations. 1

An object of the presentinvention is to provid a durable box for replacing the canvas bag-s commonly used for small coins, which bags wear out very quickly.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cash box adapted to hold a" definite amount of smallchange in certain proportions of the-various denominations, This wili promote the availability of proper change in the handsofeach clerk,-since it will be easier for a clerk to maintain a certain amountof change onhand than tobother a cashier from time to time.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a ca'shbox for holdingic'ertain nuni bers of coins of different denominations, which is so designed that it is impossible to have more than a desired number of each coin, and it is readily ascertainableif less than' a desired number of each coin is present.

- The-foregoing and other objects and-advantages of the-present invention will be 'more'readily apparent from inspectionof theaccompanying drawings taken in-c'onnection with the following: 7

tially along line 3-3 of Fig. 2 but showing the complementary halvesof the coin holding sections in closed relation;

Fig. 4 is an end view'of the casli-"box in fully closed position;

Fig. 5' is a partial sectionalwiew t'aken substantially along'line 5'-5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view'tak'en substantially along line 66 of- Fig. 5.

The invention comprises a-lower tray 10, an upper'tray H, and a cover member I2, thethree members being hinged together along an edge at It and I' l. Teena-y l-llis provided with a pluralityof substantially semicyundncai g-r'dov'es" 1'5} and thecomple'mentary tray- H is" provided.

2 with aplurality of matching grooves 16, the grooves 15 and I6 when placed in the superiinosed vrelationship forming a substantially cylindrical space adapted to contain coins of a certain size such as pennies. Tray Ill is provided with a similar groove l1 complementary to a groove I 8 in tray H adapted to provide space for a rowof; nickels; Similar pairsof grooves are provided-such as I9 and '20 for dimes, 2i and '22 for quarters, and 23' and 24 for halfdollar coins. Each of the grooves is broken into individual steps such as the steps 25 indicated in groove I 5, each step being adapted to hold a certain number of coins of the denomination adapted to fit into'the groove, as illustrated in Fig-52 The length of each step is accurately determined by taking the over-all length of several-' hundred coins of that denomination and dividing by a factor designed to give a result equal to the length of the desired number of ceins for ea'ehstep'. Accordingly, only that number of coins may be rested on each step, hence the" owner knows at a-g'lance the total value of coins present in the box. The steps 25 are so de'sig'ned'that'their axes are substantially parallel and. at an inclination to the surface of the tray so that the bottom of each groove presents a succession of alternate anticlines and synclines whereby the rows .of' coins are broken up into series of offset denominational groups.

bottom of each tray is substantially open; and at-least one end wall of the lower tray I0 is provided with an edge notch 28 through which thefing'ers' of one hand may be inserted to facilitate lifting the filled box from a table. The bottom, whichbecomes the top when the tray is closed, of tray II is covered by a thin sheet of metal '26- which is preferably provided with an onset-ton ue 21 struck from the metal so as to provide a clip wherein paper money may be retained. The edge dimensions of tray II are less than those of tray It in order to permit the walls of Ed i=2 to" rest flush with the walls of tray ID.

The lid member i2 is provided with a retainer 3 0' projecting therefrom through Whieh' there is I lid I'-2 the sidewalls of the tray H are sloped inw arotly t'oclear the rounded edges of the tray H; and one'wall of the tray II is recessed at 33 to provide a groove for reception and passage of the ret'ai-nerf fl. A bes's 35 is providedon the tray 10 in which is slidably' seated a bolt '36 adapted to extend through the opening 3| in the retainer 30 so as to latch the box in closed position. A side wall of the boss 35 is recessed at 31 to provide clearance for the passage of a bolt operating knob 38 which also acts to retain the bolt within the boss against the force of a i spring 39 tending to force it into latching position. The knob 38 may be engaged by inserting fingers beneath the tray 10 and compressing the spring 39, whereupon the box may be opened. The front end of the bolt 36 may be provided with a rounded or sloping surface 40 so that the lid may be snapped shut without requiring withdrawal of the bolt by manipulating knob 38. Assembly of the bolt in the tray is accomplished by slipping the bolt longitudinally through an opening 4! and then assembling the knob 38 to the bolt as by means of screw threads. The recess 31 is curved so as to force the bolt 36 into proper position, and also provides means whereby withdrawal of the bolt is effected by pullin knob 38 down.

It i to be noted that each groove in the lower tray I is provided with an end wall 45 extending substantially normal to the axes of the inclined steps so that coins will rest in substantially cylindrically positioned groups. The opposite end wall 48 of each groove is disposed at a divergent angle so as to permit insertion and removal of the last group of coins. The end walls of the grooves in the tray H are disposed in reversed relation so that the end Wall 41 which overlies the end wall 46 is normal to the axes of the steps and the end wall 43 which overlies the end wall 45 is disposed divergently. This relationship of the end wall 41 assures the compacting of the row of coins when the box is closed so that the coins in a filled row will be snugly embraced and prevented from rattling. Also if, by any chance, more than the desired number of coins should be placed in a row, one of the steps, or the end wall ll, will strike a coin and prevent the lid from being fully closed, thus providing a quick check against oversupply of coins of a certain denomination. The divergent position of the end wall 68 permits the upper tray II to be closed since it may thus clear the first coin in a row.

The grooves 23 and 24 for the reception of half-dollar pieces are single steps but retain the same characteristics inasmuch as the end walls 50 and 53 are normal to the axes of the grooves, the end walls 52 are vertical, but nevertheless divergent from the end walls 50 and 53 and the end walls 5! are inclined, thus providing the same features as with respect to the grooves having a plurality of steps.

Having illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications in detail and arrangement thereof are permissible. All such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims are considered to be a part of my invention.

I claim:

1. A coin box comprising a lower tray, and an upper tray hingedl attached to said lower tray along an edge thereof, said lower tray having a plurality of substantially semi-cylindrical grooves therein normal to said edge adapted to accommodate rows of coins of various denominations, the bottoms of at least several of said grooves presenting series of alternate anticlines and synclines whereby the rows of coins therein are broken up into series of ofiset denominational 4, groups, and said upper tray having similar grooves provided with equal and opposed antlclines and synclines to complement the grooves of said lower tray.

2. A coin box comprising a lower tray, and an upper tray hingedly attached to said lower tray along an edge thereof, said lower tray having a plurality of substantially semi-cylindrical grooves therein normal to said edge adapted to accommodate rows of coins of various denominations, the bottoms of at'least one of said grooves presenting a series of alternate anticlines and synclines whereby the row of coins therein is broken.

up into a series of offset denominational groups, and said upper tray having grooves provided with equal and opposed anticlines and synclines to complement the grooves of said lower tray.

3. A coin box comprising a lower tray, an upper tray hingedly attached to said lower tray along an edge thereof, said lower tray having a plu-- rality of substantially semi-cylindrical groovestherein normal to said edge adapted to accommodate rows of coins of various denominations. the bottoms of a plurality of said grooves presenting series of alternate anticlines and syn--- clines whereby the rows of coins therein are:

broken up into series of offset denominational groups, and said upper tray having similargrooves provided with equal and opposed anti-'- clines and synclines to complement the grooves; of said lower tray, and a lid hingedly attached? to said lower tray along said edge.

4. A coin box comprising a lower tray, an upper tray hingedly attached to said lower tray along: an edge thereof, said lower tray having a plu-- rality of substantially semi-cylindrical grooves therein normal to said edge adapted to accommodate rows of coins of various denominationsthe bottoms of the majority of said grooves presenting series of alternate anticlines and synclines whereby the rows of coins therein are broken up into series of offset denominational groups, and said upper tra having similar grooves provided with equal and opposed anticlines and synclines to complement the grooves of said lowe tray.

5. A coin box comprising a first tray having a plurality of upwardly facing, substantially parallel grooves therein, each of certain of said grooves being formed to present a succession of semi-cylindrical steps whose axes are substantially parallel and inclined at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the tray, one end wall of each groove being substantially normal to said axes, and the opposing end wall being disposed in a plane forming a divergent angle with the plane of said one end wall, and an upper tray hingedly connected to an edge of said lower tray normal to said grooves and having a plurality of complementary grooves formed therein, each of certain of said complementary grooves being shaped to form, together with the grooves in said lower tray, a plurality of substantially cylindrical spaces each of a size snugly to embrace a group of coins.

6. A coin box comprising a first tray having a plurality of upwardly facing, substantially parallelgrooves therein, at least one of said grooves being formed to present a succession of semi-cylindrical steps whose axes are substantially parallel and inclined at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the tray, one end wall of said groove being substantially normal to said axes, and the opposing end wall being disposed in a plane forming a divergent angle with the plane of said one end wall, and an upper tray hingedly connected to an edge of said lower tray normal to said grooves and having a plurality of complementary grooves formed therein, at least one of said complementary grooves being shaped to form, together with said groove in said lower tray, a plurality of substantially cylindrical spaces each of a size snugly to embrace a group of coins.

7. A coin box comprising a first tray having a plurality of upwardly facing, substantially parallel grooves therein, each of certain of said grooves being formed to present a succession of semi-cylindrical steps whose axes are substantially parallel and inclined at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the tray, one end wall of each groove being substantially normal to said axes, and the opposing end wall being disposed in a plane forming a divergent angle with the plane of said one end wall, and an upper tray hingedly connected to an edge of said lower tray normal to said grooves and having a plurality of complementary grooves formed therein, each of certain of said complementary grooves being shaped to form, together with the grooves in said lower tray, a plurality of substantially cylindrical spaces each of a size snugly to embrace a group of coins, the end walls of each of said complementary grooves being disposed similarly to the end walls of the grooves in said lower tray but in reversed relation thereto when the trays are in closed relation to each other.

8. A coin box comprising a first tray having a plurality of upwardly facing, substantially parallel grooves therein, at least one of said grooves being formed to present a succession of semi-cylindrical steps whose axes are substan: tially parallel and inclined at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the tray, one end wall of said groove being substantially normal to said axes; and the opposing end wall being disposed in a plane forming a divergent angle with the plane of said one end wall, and an upper tray hingedly connected to an edge of said lower tray normal to said grooves and having a plurality of complementary grooves formed therein, at least one of said complementary grooves being shaped to form, together with said groove in said lower tray, a plurality of substantially cylindrical spaces each of a size snugly to embrace a group of coins, the end walls of said complementary groove being disposed similarly t the end walls of said groove in said lower tray but in reversed relation thereto when the trays are in closed relation to each other.

9. A coin box comprising a first tray having a plurality of upwardly facing, substantially parallel grooves therein, each of certain of said grooves being formed to present a succession of semi-cylindrical steps whose axes are substantially parallel and inclined at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the tray, one end wall of each groove being substantially normal to said axes, and the opposin end wall being disposed in a plane forming a divergent angle with the plane of said one end wall, and an upper tray hingedly connected to an edge of said lower tray normal to said grooves and having a plurality of complementary grooves formed therein, each of certain of said complementary grooves being shaped to form, together with the grooves in said lower tray, a plurality of substantially cylindrical spaces each of a size snugly to embrace a group of coins, each of said complementary grooves in said upper tray havin its end wall adapted to be juxtaposed to the said one end wall of the groove in the lower tray disposed at an angle divergent from a plane normal to the axes of said grooves, and its end wall adapted to be juxtaposed to the opposite end wall of the groove in said lower tray disposed in a plane normal to the axes of said grooves.

10. A coin box comprising a first tray having a plurality of upwardly facing, substantially parallel grooves therein, each of certain of said grooves being formed to present a succession of semicylindrical steps whose axes are substantially parallel and inclined at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the tray, one end wall of each groove bein substantially normal to said axes, and the opposing end wall being disposed in a plane forming a divergent angle with the plane of said one end wall, an upper tray hingedly connected to an edge of said lower tray normal to said grooves and having a plurality of complementary grooves formed therein, each of certain of said complementary grooves being shaped to form, together with the grooves in said lower tray, a plurality of substantially cylindrical spaces each of a size snugly to embrace a group of coins, each of said complementary grooves in said upper tray having its end wall adapted to be juxtaposed to the said one end wall of the groove in the lower tray disposed at an angle divergent from a plane normal to the axes of said grooves, and its end wall adapted to be juxtaposed to the opposite end wall of the groove in said lower tray disposed in a plane normal to the axes of said grooves, a lid hingedly attached to said edge and adapted to enclose said upper tray, and means to latch said lid to said lower tray.

WILLIAM H. WHITCOMB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS l Number Name Date 201,264 Meaker Mar. 12, 1878 710,093 Brand Sept. 30, 1902 1,396,361 Davidson Nov. 8, 1921 2,249,005 Karns July 15, 1941 2,296,989 Forsyth Sept. 29, 1942 2,321,570 Billing 1 June 15, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 767,286 France May 1, 1934 

